With the skirmish over in after a couple of minutes of it's beginning, Borrum does a quick assessment of his allies status'.
Seeing the downed shape of the ape in one of the towers, he flies to the body while the effects of his spells continue. He gathers up Catches Crows gently and carries him to the base of the tower, incase the dragon returns and they need to make a hasty retreat.
With whatever time is left he will fly to where the dragon was laying at on top of the NW tower and search it.
Borrum says quickly to the others.
----------------------------------------------
Current On-Going Effects: Resist Energy (Fire 10), 49min; Barkskin (+2 Nat AC), 49 min; Aid (+1 Atk, +1 vs Fear), 34 rds; Shield of Faith (+2 Def AC), 33 rds; Fly (40ft, good), 33 rds; Enlarge Person (+2 str, -2 dex, +1 Size Cat), 33 rds; Magic Weapon (+1/+1 Waraxe), 22 rds; Ray of Enfeeblement (-8 Str, (-4 Atk, -4 Dam)), 6+ min;
You get in the tent but you see no paper..
I am alive Borrum, I would not worry over the dragon. The lizardfolk descends the tower and stands near his allies as he continues to speak weary, gore-soaked and spent from the dangerous combat.
"You were unconscious when it happened but the cowardly creature fled down the gorge, my curse of frost sapped the last of its life and it tumbled into the rapids. It is likely down river by now, I intend to find its corpse once the blessing of my lady have returned tomorrow. I can assume the hawk form I took earlier today and meet you all in the town of drellin's ferry."
he walks over to catches crows and strokes the beast softly
"It death was not without great cost though, the beasts last wave of gas reached Catches Crows."
the lizardman hitches a breath in and sorrow held only by a thread "He died quickly at least and his sacrifice permits our surviving company to stand as Dragon Slayers something only myths can boast of in this day.
I can grieve properly when my enemies blood feeds the reeds though. The army still approaches and we need a way to destroy the bridge, I have never done such a thing.
Have any of you skill in stonework? Knowing where to strike would be good as the craftsmanship of this structure makes the prospect of felling it daunting."
The druid states examining the ancient bridges structure the worn stone telling him tales of fantastic craftsmanship.
Hextor will be proud of our fight today. It's a great Victory with no casualty ... or few for us
Galdamor looked at the bridge and said
May be we could ask our Giant friend ? If we found nothing to destroy this bridge. I'm no engineer so I have no idea how destroy it
Not really training in engineering, Borrum does his best to inspect the bridge for an weakness that could be exploited to help bring it down.
He will look on both sides, and even under the bridge and at any footing it may have.
He will also use his knowledge and expertise with climbing, looking for bad places to position pitons as these might also indicate weak rocks.
Reill accompanies borrum and after inspecting the bridge he goes back to the blind rufa and they talk about it
after a few minutes of talk where she ask questions and he goes to have an other few looks around.
At the point where the bridge meets the southwest tower, centuries of erosion and weathering have created a vulnerable spot.
Reill directs Borrum to attack a specifics point that will most likely cause the entire bridge walkway to collapse.
The four guard towers serve as anchor connecting the bridge to the side of the gorge. The bridge can be destroyed by ruining both of the towers on either end
Reill with rufa will also direct borrum and galdamore to destroy a specifics section at the base of the tower.
It will take a good 10 min to both of them to damage the reinfoced dwarven massonry.
As soon athe they both chip in the final blow to the structure grinds and both if them have only less then a few seconds to get out of the way before it collaps
The party heads back toward Drelin's ferry but after an hour it is to dark to make any progresse and have to stop and camp out.
The night passes uneventfully and in the morning they resume their treck across the forest. Progress is slow as the blind rufa is slowing the party, but they make it back to town without much of a problem early evening
Fleeing the scene after the bridge collapse Galdamor said
We need to warn Drelin's Ferry of this army. We just buy time, it's just one victory. To win more, we need to be prepared for what to come.
I fear, it will be difficult for us to be believed without proof.
As we find no paper or whatsoever showing the head of this dragon will be a good proof of the danger of the "Red Hand" army.
I sure Hextor send me and you Borrum to take the lead of the defence of this land and show to the other how a War must be conduct.
after a short pause, Galdadmor added
He gave us victory today.
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Swirls mist had taken a moment to tend to his fallen, removing one of his companions fangs and fashioning it into a necklace. It hung heavy on the druids neck as he performed a few supplications to his god.
A small collection of stones and branches organized in patterns and sigils graven with Catches crows in the center. His broad back to the rushing river of the gorge. The druid picking a spot most likely to allow the ape to escape the rocky rapids and settle down river, somewhere with reeds.
"She who whispers through the fens,
Who shadows the hunters and stirs the waters
I ask you to take this one unto your bosom
For his time is done, he has had his lifetime
Greet him with the warmth of your kindest days
And let him stand tall as an honored ancestor
On my honor I say him deserving of such praise"
---(pause to permit others to speak if they desire)
With this he nods sadly to his companion, placing one foot on the apes chest and finishes the prayer in common.
"May the warmth of her breath and the blessing of her laughter guide you on your journey home."
Straining, swirls mist pushes his deceased ally off the cliff plummeting, the druid turns one clawed hand rising to dry his eyes as he faces his new allies.
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(traveling after the bridge collapse)
"I have intentions to retrieve that creatures body come tomorrow when my lady once again blesses me with her might. I have an aspect of coldest winter that will allow me to summon a frozen pillar large and strong enough to block the rivers flow for a time. I saw the dragon fall so I know the general area it might be in the river itself. On finding it I shall summon a hippogriff to pull it up the gorge, and take its skull. After I stow what I take in my pack I will assume the form of Dire Hawk that I took yesterday and join you in Drellins ferry. "
-----
I'm making the rest of this under the assumption that the remaining member of my party followed along with my idea and left to drellins ferry without me.
Swirls Mist is unimpeded by even the deepest underbrush so he will travel though the denser woods and cut back to the bridge that way.
Does the forest/plains on the northern side of the bridge look flammable? I figure a forest fire would generate enough smoke to provide the distraction i need.
I suppose I could also take potshots at one of the manticores and send them on a merry chase.
Would be produce flame, Summon dire hawk and a bunch of panache after a few moments to give the plants on the other side of the gorge time to ignite.
No matter what happens to Swirl Mist
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The rest of the party makes it back without a problem to Drelin's Ferry. As they get out of the forest the heat on this day (June 9th) cause borrum to sweat during the last mile with all that extra weight he is carrying.
It is close to diner time but there is still plenty of light as the sun will not set for a couple of hours.
that being the case Swirls mist will prepare himself. Swirls Mist casts: Snow sight(see through snow), Camouflage(+10 hide), Summon dire hawk(minute/CL summon).
He will then approach the edge of the gorge from at least 300ft away from the Red hand group and look around the area he feels the dragon fell into. He will then look for a suitable gap to place his Ice column near where he fells the dragon fell so as to hopefully avoid attention. He will leap off the cliff cast the ice column spell and assume bird form with Winged Watcher(can be cast as a swift), searching the river bed as it drains.
Summon direhawk lasts for 5 minutes (swirls mist will use his extend rod and make it 10) giving him a dire hawk he can control with a telepathic link and instruct it to search the river as well.
Soon as he finds it he will instruct the dire hawk to act as a distraction if any of the creatures on the bridge have noticed the rivers strangeness/ choose to investigate.
If they have not yet at the time Swirls mist will still send the hawk to circle the bridge from the forest and attack from the opposite side of the bridge to keep their eyes on something else.
on getting to the dragon, assume human form/summon hippogriff with SNA2 and carry the dragons corpse out of the river and into the forest where Swirls mist will process the monster for its loot/skin and other valuable parts. again use winged watcher to exit the river. Once finished he will leave the corpse for the forest and assume dire hawk shape leaving for dellins ferry.
And for rolls, I assume you want a hide/ move silent. A survival to find a good spot to block the river and a spot to notice the dragon in the river once it has drained? Lemme know if I need anything else.
(have not added distance modifiers + whatever bonus I get for forest canopy cover)
(distance mods unadded, plus whatever bonus I get for the noise of the river)
(dire hawks checks to find it.
As to other things, If put into combat Swirls mist will cast Spirit Jaws and have it maul the crap out of whatever is attacking with the help of the dire hawk.
If he needs to escape/ provide a screen to prevent enemies from following he will use winged watcher and Obscuring snow to create a 30ft wide sphere of snow that follows him around which other people can't see though. It lasts for 50 minutes
Hopefully that covers all the contingencies and we can get this rolling.
It will also neatly expend all my spell slots if I have to cast all of the spells outlined. (4 1st, 3 2nd, 2 3rd)
I am going to answer for the first part and then you call me what you do :)
Bridge caper Round 1
Swirls mist will fly forward 80ft and make a hide check among some of the uncovered rocks of the river bed. 20ft from the corpse.
(Tiny size=+8, Raven dex=+2, Camoflauge for another +10)
The dire hawk under Swirls mists command will fly forward 80ft and screech a challenge to the arrayed enemies (hawk takes a full defensive)
AC= 23 it will seek to gain cover from its arrayed foes this round if it can.
Edited to add this rounds actions.
Actions:
Bridge actions Round 2:
Swirls Mists spell of bird form runs out.
continued hide check as a lizard man
Swirls Mist begins casting SNA2.
The dire hawk flies forward another 80ft. full defensive
So of the 18 attacks 4 hit. the hawk takes 25 damage and is heavily wounded but lives.
Ho-Le-Crap. That would have murdered me in an avalanche of death spines. Thank you awesome hawk of awesome.
Swirls mist commands the Hippogriff to fly out of the canyon and south.
The hippogriff grabs the dragons corpse and Makes a move action to fly 100ft (diagonally out of the canyon arching up over the tree line on the second round and then out into the forest.
Swirls Mists actions for the round are to cast Obscuring Snow and cling to the hippogriffs back in bird form after casting Winged Watcher.
The Dire hawk Screeches in anger and boldly runs away after stalwartly dodging 14 of the 18 projectiles sent its way.
he heads south at a different angle hoping to force the Manticores to choose which of the targets they want to chase. As I don't think they had a good chance to see what was at the bottom of the river.
Huh, yeah that is a point. what penalties would I have for attempting to cling to the hippogriff and shout commands at it as a lizard?
I really don't care about being seen, the hippogriff is a very fast flyer. I just am attempting to ensure that the creature escapes the canyon without being shot full of holes like the hawk.
Also posting is going to slow, I will still try to get this done today but I now have stuff to do.
relating to the flying stuff, you are aware that 3.5 dnd does not have a "Fly" skill as it is yes? Just a maneverability table.
Fly
Alright so slight consideration. Swirls mist can burn his rod of Extend spell to make this concept I have in my mind viable.
So SNA2(griff) is extended as is my last instance of Winged watcher.
Rather than clinging to the hippogriff and blindly hoping it can survive Swirls mist has a slightly smarter idea in mind.
Swirls Mists will command the hippogriff to move forward on land for its first round. Then fly out of the canyon and directly south flying low to the trees. It will drop the corpse into the forest on the south side of the bridge after dispelling.
Swirls Mist will have the dire hawk get right in the way of the Manticores path again, rather than have it run away. (move+ full defense) I can't see the Manticores having much reason to attack the Hawk if it isn't directly in their way to the weird thing that is happening further down the canyon.
Swirls Mist will still cast winged watcher and Obscuring snow, but he will use the spell as a mobile "Curtain" interposing himself between the Manticores and the Hippogriff. This should prevent the Manticores from pasting the Griff with spines and give me the optimal chance at pulling this off.
Swirls mist will have a general idea where the hippogriff went while if he did his job with the snow screen the Manticores will not. The goblins are trapped on the other side of the brigde and and will not pose a threat once I get away from the canyon.
If the hippogiff stays on the ground for the first movement he is fine. what you are saying about balance is fair for a flying instance but fog by itself wont prevent normal movement through the fog as they have the land to keep an idea as to where they are.
Once Swirls Mist moves 40ft into the air the griff will be able to see and get behind the "Screen" effect the druid is doing.
If the specific plan wont work then fly out of the Canyon and south works just fine. Hippogriffs are damned fast. Run action + wingover feat means even needing to climb the Griff can fly 390ft + 1 180% turn at any point in the movement.
The manticores Spines are specifically ranged attack rolls. they would need to guess the square I am/hippogriff is in from a 30ft spread of squares. that's something like 32 squares to try and cover if we are talking 3-d areas.
even if you land the right square the 50% miss chance comes into effect. Ac after that.
Total Concealment
If you have line of effect to a target but not line of sight he is considered to have total concealment from you. You can’t attack an opponent that has total concealment, though you can attack into a square that you think he occupies. A successful attack into a square occupied by an enemy with total concealment has a 50% miss chance (instead of the normal 20% miss chance for an opponent with concealment).
I'm just planning on annoying the Manticores with my cloud by getting in front of them and trying to make them crash by losing their bearings.
The dire hawk makes a Run action, following the hippogriff.
320ft move. (unsure of percisely where the dire hawk is if its still in the canyon it double moves to permit it to fly at an angle rather than the straight line running requires.)
The hippogriff Makes a flying run moving out of the canyon.
Going straight up and using the wingover feat to make a sharp turn to the south.
390ft movement in total, not counting in the 100ft spent moving *up* The hippogriff is now 290+ 80 370ft from the Manticores
Swirls Mist flys (80) or runs (160) up the canyon (whichever will put me at the point I need. He interposes the snow sphere in between the manticores and the hippogriff.
If possible I want to try and get a distance between the sphere and the mantiores of 60ft or more. if they want to chase it they gotta do it flying rather than just filling it full of spikes.
------
the dragon fell about 300 to 450 feet away from the Bridge. You find a suitable gap but it will require at least two ice column to damp the river about 50 ft further away. (Assuming you do. as this is the only small gap. This was the reason why the bridge was constructed here as it is the smallest gap across the gorge) Immediately the flow of water is stopped as the two ice column do their job. You do no spot the dragon immediately (round 1 and 2 after casting the last column.Round 2 Alarm is sounded at the bridge and all 3 Manticore Takes flight in a triangle pattern heading your way. all dozen worg rider mount up. 3 Head your way the rest head along the other way. Round 4 The dire Hawk spot the corps of the dragon. it is about 100 ft from your location (closer to the bridge). You Act first (you are 100 ft from the corpse - 500ft from the bridge) the mancticore are 400 ft away from you - 300ft from the corpse / The worg riders are exactly the same distance on the North of the bank
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So 2 questions from this post, are the Worg riders that are attacking the same three each time? if not when did the other riders get over here? They were said to be running down the opposite side of the bank. If they are moving at the same speed of these Worg riders they ought not to arrive for at least another couple of rounds.
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Round 3 bottom: All 3 manticore ignore the flying hawk and fully flight (run action) after the patch of obscuring snow and the Large Hippogriff. they are now (180+80-200= 60ft behind druid and 80 ft behind griff. The Worg Rider do exactly the same (130+80-200) and are now 10 feet behind Druid and 30 ft behind Griff
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Previously you did not state the elevation of your monsters, was I incorrect in presuming the manticores were descending the gorge to find out what was happening down there?
If I can't do as such then my actions change from this plan entirely as there is literally no way for me to succeed as I had intended.
Even shooting only once every 2 rounds that little group of goblins will kill my hippogriff in 3-ish rounds.
If my character is aware of the fact that the hippogriff is unable to ascend the canyon while "running" then the entire plan falls apart.
He would know this on account of his ability to wild shape into flying creatures such as a dire hawk.
As the rules for that hadn't been decided until the prior round I would request to change my actions.
On summoning the hippogriff and seeing how much trouble it is having flying (round 1 summon Grab/ and move) Swirls Mist will abandon his plan.
Current round- changed.
Instead swirls Mist will return to humanoid form close to the hippogriff and tell it to rip the dragons head off and to give it to him
-Hippogriff (standard + move)
Swirls Mist will use his action to stow the head grab anything of value on the dragons body. If he sees it he will remove said things.
On completely looting the corpse or needing to get away he will assume Dire hawk form and leave the canyon.
The town speaker, Norro Wiston, Steps into the inn's common room. Captain Soranna follows him. The speaker ushers the rest of the townfolk out of the room. Kellin the halfling who runs the Old Bridge Helps him. Then they sit down across from you.
Well ? asks Wiston What happened? What sort of trouble are we in for?
Galdamor step up and bow in a martial stance to Captain Soranna and Wiston.
Far bigger than we thought town speaker. We went to skull gorge and find a very large wel organized army with flying troupes, spell casters and infantry ready to invade the country. Hopefully we were able, with Hextor guidance to destroy a strategic way, an old guarded by no less than a mythical Dragon !
After a short pause after what he said Galdamor continued
Unfortunattelly this action lend us only a few week of respite. We need to gather an army to stop them and ask for help. My god send me, and Borrum here to help you but we need an army if we want to protect these lands from them
Still wearing his blood covered and rended armor, wearily leaning on his waraxe for support, and allowing the assembly to see new roses blossoming on fresh bandages, Borrum lets the evidence of the previous day's battle help lend weight to Galdamor's words.
A strange-looking halfling - kind of Horse-faced, really - steps toward the table. Bedecked for war, his massive shield painted a flat unreflective mottled color, his clothes, cap, hood, cloak, and weapons all similarly designed to blend into anything and everything.
"Interesting. If what you say is true, we need... oh. Hextorians. Nice. I'm sure that's just what we need." he finishes flatly, eyes narrowed.
Then, he continues, "Bah: whatever you want, so long as you don't try foolish things. Besides, you seem to have bled for this. I can respect that, if not... other things." he nods at them - especially Borrum - with respect. "I've been thoroughly pouring over the reports brought in by various travelers around: confused, conflicting, and strange reports, to say the least. You say that these hobgoblin raiders... they're all part of some large military force? What proof do you have? How large are you talking? And... a dragon? As in the kind that fart fire, fling scales like daggers, rise larger than the trees, and befoul-entire-lakes-with-their-unholy-boogers dragon? That... is something I find hard to believe."
He looks somewhat dubiously, but then, "... except I'm sure that you saw something. Our intelligence says there may well be something that may appear to be akin to that around these parts. This "dragon": what was it like, and how did it act? Were there more? What happened to it when you collapsed this strategic bridge? I was under the impression that there were more of you."
"I see. You two will wait here. Captain Sorana, they are to be placed into protective custody until they can recover from their wounds."
The Halfling quickly scribbles a large number of notes in two completely indecipherable sets of runes. Finishing, he declares, "Hm. Very well. I will defer my judgement for now." nodding to himself as he does so, and puts the book away.
He looks up suddenly. "Oh, yes, of course, my apologies. My name is Fi'dho. Don't ask: you'd be barking up the wrong tree. Heh." he grins, giving short straight-forward nods.
Rufa having ask around will tell the party that the only person that can cure her permanent blindness is the high priestess of Pelor in Brimdol. She will therefore leave the party upon payment in the morning.
Reil spontaneously offers to escort her there. (with a decent sense motive: you can also realize that the nasty fights and all the death of companions have taken their toll on him)
Plunging out of the treeline a massive hawk flies over the waters of the ferry, kicking up a plume of dust as it lands on the street in town. The creature swivels its head once before bobbing once and shivering, the motion decidedly unnatural as in swift order the bird begins to break out in scales across its body while feathers shorten merging into the flesh. The change giving way to reptilian features and squinting eyes, small horns sprouting in a similar fashion to hair. On legs quite obviously tired from the journey Swirls mist stands small trinkets of bone and wood bouncing off armor of green scale.
Ignoring any stares he gets Swirls Mist checks his hip once more to ensure the prize he had stored in one of his bags stayed put.
"I hope to not need to do that again." the lizard man mutters to himself as he walks to the shops in town looking for the inn "Too much trouble."
The scaled one complains as he walks to the inns door pushing the door open and stepping into the hushed room.
Casting about the room as various individuals look at the new arrival Swirls mist moves to a half pace behind Galdamor and Borrum
Captain Soronna, Galdamor, Borrum, Speaker." Swirls mist rattles off as he closes the door and moves into the room.
"I apologize for the delay, dredging the river for the corpse was made more complicated by manticores and mounted warriors. With the powers She granted me this day I was able to succeed though."
He places the sack on the table. Peeling off the covering Swirls mist reveals the dragons head and a portion of its neck. Frills and portions of scale hanging in places from the damage its body had taken in the fight that brought its death.
The Lizardman looks to the newcomers seated at the table but says nothing, the lax way he holds himself and slightly bent stance he holds speaking of bone tired weariness and grief saying volumes.
Swirls Mist sees the Captain, the Speaker, his two allies, and two other individuals meeting at the table together.
A hawk-nosed horse-faced Halfling (kind of ugly, to be honest, at least by the standards of Halfling kind) decked out for war stands on a chair, grilling the two so recently arrived followers of Hextor. Wrapped from head to foot in equipment meant to blend in with the surrounding terrain, he seems ready for battle himself.
"... well that answers one question and opens up many, many others." the Halfling says. "You would be... " he checks his notes, "'Swirls Mist' I believe? Fascinating." he quickly scribbles more incomprehensible things down. "Fi'dho, by the way." he says. "My name." he adds a moment later, still writing, but taking very detailed notes and carefully sketching the image of the head a few different times.
"Thank you, Captain. It appears that you were right to call me in on th-, er, invite me. Yes. I will be getting to work on this mission immediately, if not sooner."
"Now, what if this military force? You were the last to see it, I'd imagine." he asks the new arrival. Numbers, organization, weapons, armor, that sort of thing. We need details if we are to conduct a proper counter-military operation![/b]"
